Spanish for Kayakers / Theme-based Vocabulary Learning

Spanish for Kayakers / Theme-based Vocabulary Learning

By Russell Sabo

Today I’m writing a vocabulary post about one of my favorite subjects: kayaking! Yes, I’m a kayaker, and as I improve in my sport, I have plans to someday travel down to Ecuador and Chile to try out some of the rivers down there. As the people of Ecuador and Chile aren’t known for speaking English, this means it would be good to know some kayak-related Spanish.

So do you need to know Spanish to go to Central or South America to go kayaking? No, it’s not necessary because most of the guides and river-running companies there speak English or have employees who speak English. However, to get the most out of your experience there, knowing some Spanish is definitely valuable. You can get the “inside-scoop” on what the guides are saying to each other as well as being able to speak with the locals. And if you’re single, the women are very beautiful and friendly…and chances are they don’t speak much English.

But I’m Not a Kayaker

Now, if you’re not a kayaker, this article will show you a good exercise to learn. Picking a theme or a favorite hobby of yours and learning the Spanish words for your activity’s terminology is a great way to increase your fluency level. I can say I’ve learned a lot just in creating my list below. All it takes is knowing the name of your activity or hobby in Spanish and then searching for that word in Google (in Spanish, of course). Or if you don’t know the name of your activity or hobby in Spanish, then just go to Google Translate and type it in. It takes very little time and it will increase your vocabulary very quickly. You’ll find that being interested in the vocabulary will help it to ‘stick’ much more easily than vocabulary words that you have no interest in. Build more of these lists and soon you’ll find that you suddenly have lots to talk about in Spanish!

Spanish for Kayakers

This is an on-going work and I will update it as I learn new words. If you have any new words to add or if you think something is incorrect, please leave a comment below so that I can update or correct this list as soon as possible. Also, I’d like to give special thanks to Lori Turbes and Abe Herrera for providing me with some of the harder-to-find words. Both are excellent (and professional!) kayakers. If you’d like to learn more, check them out! Lori keeps her own blog here: Dream or Destiny and also here: Team Sundance Blog and Abe’s website is here: Boof Sessions

Bodies of Water

the brook – el arroyo

the brook – el riachuelo

the dam – la represa

the estuary – el estuario

the lake – el lago

the pond – el charco

the river – el río

the open sea – el mar abierto

the reservoir – la embalse

the sea – el mar

the stream – el arroyo

the stream – el riachuelo

Paddlers, Paddling & Boats

the boat – el barco

the canoe – la canoa

canoe or kayak – la piragua

canoeing, kayaking – piragüismo

the kayak – el kayak

kayaker – kayakista (I have also seen “Kayakero”)

to go kayaking – andar en kayak

to go kayaking – navegar en kayak

to kayak – kayakear (Not an official Spanish word, but it seems to have been adopted by the paddling community)

to paddle – remar

paddler – palista

to practice (or go) kayaking – practicar kayak

to put in (the river) the boat – meterse el barco

recreational kayak – kayak de recreo

rodeo kayak or playboat – kayak de rodeo

sea kayak – kayak de travesía en mar

to surf – surfear

to take out (of the river) the boat – sacar el barco

whitewater kayak – kayak de aguas blancas

whitewater boat – piragua de aguas bravas

Boat Anatomy & Equipment

arched hull or rocker – el casco arqueado

bow – proa

the cockpit – la bañera

fiberglass – fibra de vidrio

the necessary equipment – el equipaje necesario

the paddle – el remo

the paddle – la pala

very flat hull or planing hull – el casco muy plano

polyethylene – polietileno

rocker – rocker

sharp edges (referring to the boat) – cantos vivos

stern – popa

V-Hull – casco en V

waterline – línea de flotación

Personal Wear

the footwear – el calzado

the helmet – el casco

life vest, life jacket, PFD – el chaleco salvavidas

neoprene – neopreno

neoprene boots – escarpines de neopreno

skirt – pollera

spray skirt – el cubrebañeras

spray skirt, cockpit cover – cubrecockpit

spray skirt – faldón

water sandals – sandalias de agua

wetsuit – traje de neopreno

Water and Land Features

against the current – contra la corriente

the beach – la playa

big hole – huecaso

the cave – la cueva

the cliff – el cantil

the cliff (that overlooks the sea) – el acantilado

Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 – grado1, grado 2, grado 3, etc…

the current – la corriente

downriver, downstream – río abajo

eddy – vado

eddy or backwater – remanso

the flood – la inundación

to flow – fluir

good lines – buenas líneas

the gully – la barranca

hole, souse hole, hydraulic – hueco

hole, sticky – stiky (pegajoso)

the line – la línea

obstacles – obstáculos

the rapid – el rápido

the ravine – el barranco

the river basin – la cuenca del río

the riverbed – el lecho del río

river right – la derecha del río

river left – la izquierda del río

the rocks – las rocas

the shore – la orilla

strainer – coladera

strainer (log) – tronco

strainer (stick) – palo

strainer (tree) – arbol

vertical, swirling water (a hole or hydraulic) – arremolinada vertical – I don’t think one would hear this in Latin America, but more-so in Spain (just a guess)

waterfall – cascada

waterfall – la catarata

the watershed – la cuenca

the wind – el viento

whirlpool – remolino

whitewater – las aguas blancas

whitewater – las aguas bravas

Safety & Rescue

aggressive swimming style – estilo de natación agresivo

a boat capsize, overturned boat – un vuelco

boat pin – corbata

dangerous – peligroso

deep – profundo/profunda

drownings – ahogamientos

defensive swimming style – estilo de natación defensivo

floating – flotando

foot entanglement – el enredamiento de los pies

foot entrapment – pie atrapado en las piedras

hypothermia – hipotermia

knife – cuchillo

lost equipment – equipaje perdido

maneuverable – maniobrable

rescue from the shore – rescate desde la orilla

rescue with the assistance of a boat – rescate con el auxilio de un barco